Three Dead, 50 Hurt as Coptics Mourn Pope Shenouda [PHOTOS]

Three people were killed and at least 50 injured at St Mark's Cathedral in Cairo as thousands of grief-stricken Coptic Christians turned out to mourn the loss of Pope Shenouda III.

The three were crushed to death as mourners rushed into the cathedral.

Mourners had gathered to pay their last respects to Pope Shenouda, who died at the age of 88 on Saturday. His body was dressed in elaborate religious robes and seated on a ceremonial throne in the cathedral for the ceremony.

Pope Shenouda has been the head of Egypt's Christian community for 40 years. His loss has raised fears of increased persecution of Coptic Christians, who make up 10 percent of Egypt's Muslim-dominated population.

Authorities have expressed their support for the community and announced a period of public mourning, according to the LA Times.

Coptic mourner prays next to the body of Pope Shenouda III, the head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, displayed for public viewing, inside the St Mark's Cathedral in CairoReuters

Egyptian Christians gather to mourn the death of the Egyptain Coptic pope Reuters

The streets around St Mark's Cathedral in the Abbasiya district of Cairo were thronged with mournersReuters

Egyptian Christians gather to mourn the death of Pope Shenouda III, the head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, outside the Abbasiya Cathedral in CairoREUTERS

Clerics lead the formalities for the mourning of Pope Shenouda IIIReuters

Overcome with griefReuters

The death of the pope puts a large question mark against the future of Egypt's Coptic Christian minorityReuters